Community Reviews

One would think after all the mystery books I have read that I could figure out the who before the big reveal, but apparently not. Which goes to the author's credit especially since this is her first mystery and it is a good one.

A puzzle within a puzzle, clues found by geocacheing, which in the states we call letter boxing. It is a lot of fun, two good friends and mine did this for a couple of years and it was a blast. One follows clues posted on a website and you look for the hidden box. In geoOne would think after all the mystery books I have read that I could figure out the who before the big reveal, but apparently not. Which goes to the author's credit especially since this is her first mystery and it is a good one.

A puzzle within a puzzle, clues found by geocacheing, which in the states we call letter boxing. It is a lot of fun, two good friends and mine did this for a couple of years and it was a blast. One follows clues posted on a website and you look for the hidden box. In geocacheing they use GPS to find specific co-ordinate, of course my friends and I weren't looking for body parts, nor trying to solve a murder. In this story that is what is at stake.

Good mixture of the personal lives and the professional of the two lead detectives, Beatrice and Florin, which added a much appreciated roundness to these characters. There is some graphic violence, but only that which is necessary to the story. Very well done mystery and I certainly hope to see these characters again. I didn't guess the killer nor the reason, but you may have better luck.

This was an excellent read. Detectives Beatrice Kaspery and Florin Wenninger receive a case in which a woman is found dead in a cow pasture with map coordinates tattooed on the heels of her feet. So begins a chase for a serial killer whose victims are found through geocaching - GPS coordinates given to 'hunters' to find a treasure. As the killer continues to give the police their clues, it seems they are always behind in finding him.

Excellent writing in this novel and I did not figure4.5 stars

This was an excellent read. Detectives Beatrice Kaspery and Florin Wenninger receive a case in which a woman is found dead in a cow pasture with map coordinates tattooed on the heels of her feet. So begins a chase for a serial killer whose victims are found through geocaching - GPS coordinates given to 'hunters' to find a treasure. As the killer continues to give the police their clues, it seems they are always behind in finding him.

Excellent writing in this novel and I did not figure out how it was coming together until the big reveal. This seems to be a series and I hope it continues to be translated because I will definitely read more. Highly recommended for those who enjoy a cat-and-mouse type of suspense book.

it's pretty far away from what I'm reading these days, but it is what it is; and I seriously needed a reading break.

The discovery of a woman's body at the bottom of a rock face turns into a bizarre case involving geocaching, one that keeps the detectives of the Salzburg State Office of Criminal Investigation on the move while trying to decipher strange clues at different gps locations. The dead woman provides the first clue; she has what turns out to be gps coordinates tattooed on the bottoms oit's pretty far away from what I'm reading these days, but it is what it is; and I seriously needed a reading break.

The discovery of a woman's body at the bottom of a rock face turns into a bizarre case involving geocaching, one that keeps the detectives of the Salzburg State Office of Criminal Investigation on the move while trying to decipher strange clues at different gps locations. The dead woman provides the first clue; she has what turns out to be gps coordinates tattooed on the bottoms of her feet. When the police arrive at the specified location, they make a gruesome find -- inside of a food container they discover a hand that looks to have been cut off of its owner with a saw. Also in the container is a cryptic message about the next potential victim -- first name only, description, and a numerical puzzle they must solve to figure out the next coordinates. It's like a macabre sort of treasure hunt where the only possible reward is finding the connection between the victims which will hopefully lead to the killer's capture, but of course in crime fiction, it's never that simple.

So, I knew that this was what I call a "gimmicky serial killer" book when I started reading it, and I picked it up just to have something that I didn't need to put much work into. It was sort of a sandwich filling kind of entertainment read for me, coming between some pretty hefty novels where I needed to pay serious attention to what was going on, and I grabbed it needing a brain break. I didn't realize that it's also another book where cop-has-serious-domestic-issues kind of angst. My psychic powers sense much more home-front drama in coming installments. What's really missing for me here is setting -- seriously, if I didn't know this book came from Austria, it could have been situated anywhere, and that was sort of disappointing. Sigh.

For my own relax purposes, it sufficed. There are some gruesome descriptions, but thankfully, they're sort of after the fact and the author doesn't feel the need to dwell on the horrific details of exactly how things happened. That's a plus in my book, as is the actual core mystery behind the killer's motivations, which I thought was a pretty good one, although I wasn't a huge fan of the actual ending. Readers who are much more into thrillers than I am will probably enjoy it; it's dark but not too dark, and I would say it comes closer to the police procedural end of crime than any other subgenre....more

This is a fine translation of a well-plotted mystery set in Salzburg, Austria. Archer does a particularly good job of explaining and tying up the story at the end. The climax will leave readers with more sympathy for the antagonist than might be expected.

“A series of co-ordinates tattooed on the feet of a murder victim lead the police to a box containing body parts - and a note from the killer with a series of cryptic clues to the identity of the next victim. A nail-biting, page-turning thriller that will send shivers down your spine”

An Austrian crime thriller set around the activity of geocaching – two things I had not come across before, so I was a little bit out of my comfort zone but in the end I thoroughly enjoyed this read. It was a little“A series of co-ordinates tattooed on the feet of a murder victim lead the police to a box containing body parts - and a note from the killer with a series of cryptic clues to the identity of the next victim. A nail-biting, page-turning thriller that will send shivers down your spine”

An Austrian crime thriller set around the activity of geocaching – two things I had not come across before, so I was a little bit out of my comfort zone but in the end I thoroughly enjoyed this read. It was a little bit difficult to get into at first, the writing in the first few pages seemed a little bit strange, but that may have been the translation.

The crimes themselves are grizzly, gruesome and bloody. The plot is well thought out and quite complex. I did “suspect” the guilty party before it was revealed in the book, but only just before, and even then it was a “I wonder if XX did it, but even if that is true then I cannot possibly work out why or how” moment. The geocaching angle really intrigued me. I had never heard of it before but the author works it in in a very easy to understand way and she interested me enough to google it and find out more about the activity – and even to have a go myself!

I liked the pairing of Murder Squad detectives Beatrice Kaspary and Florin Wenninger. Beatrice is a dedicated detective juggling her work with her two children, belligerent ex husband and ghosts from the past. Florin on the other hand is more of an enigma. I felt he didn’t really come across in this book, yet hopefully the author will bring the pair back for another outing. There is most definitely a spark between them but in all fairness, I think a romance would spoil it. Let them tiptoe around each other for a good long while!

All in all, this is not a bad read at all. Many thanks to the publisher for the review copy....more

I liked it! The writing style was impressive, especially since it was a translation. There were frequent flashbacks that didn't disrupt the storyline or pace. It was easy to follow, yet kept up a decent pulse.

I love the topic of geocaching. A unique twist on a mystery/thriller for me. I was fascinated with this hobby that I'd never heard of. It brought a nice element of intrigue. The clues were gruesome, and much of the book reminded me of an advanced and more graphic episode of Criminal Minds.I liked it! The writing style was impressive, especially since it was a translation. There were frequent flashbacks that didn't disrupt the storyline or pace. It was easy to follow, yet kept up a decent pulse.

I love the topic of geocaching. A unique twist on a mystery/thriller for me. I was fascinated with this hobby that I'd never heard of. It brought a nice element of intrigue. The clues were gruesome, and much of the book reminded me of an advanced and more graphic episode of Criminal Minds.

There was some decent character development for Beatrice, but I needed just a little more. And way more about Florin and the team. The plot sort of plateaued somewhere about 2/3 of the way in, then really picked back up again.

Overall this was an enjoyable read, and I would pick up the next book by this author....more

I felt that this book was well thought out and certainly had me stumped. Ms. Archer sure writes 'crazy' well. I admit to thinking that the clues just went on a little to long and the middle portion of the book got a little bogged down for me, but it picked right back up again in the last 50-60 pages. I liked the writing style and I hope the author brings Beatrice back and turns this into a series because I'd be interested in following her story a bit longer.

Five is an interesting crime novel combining geocaching with a mystery and murder. For those who don’t know geocaching, you enter GPS coordinates into your cell phone, and then go searching for “treasure” hidden by others. The item could’ve been there for years. Usually it’s something small, but in the case of “Five”, things are a little more gruesome. Think along the line of body parts. Yep, that gruesome.

Five is an interesting crime novel combining geocaching with a mystery and murder. For those who don’t know geocaching, you enter GPS coordinates into your cell phone, and then go searching for “treasure” hidden by others. The item could’ve been there for years. Usually it’s something small, but in the case of “Five”, things are a little more gruesome. Think along the line of body parts. Yep, that gruesome.

The writing is excellent. I started this one at eleven thirty at night, hoping to read about half an hour before heading to back. Yeah…that didn’t work. I had to read this book in one sitting, even if it was two o’clock by the time I was finished. Main character, detective Beatrice Kaspary, is an intriguing protagonist. She’s a bit of a cliché character – the angry ex-husband, living for the job – but she makes it work. She’s so genuine, she could be a real person. Florin was a great sidekick, and the underlying attraction between both of them made for an interesting turn of events.

But it’s the murdering itself, the killing, and the killer, that really make the book shine. The geocaching elements screams originality (heck, at least to me, it’s the first I’d heard of it) and the killer himself is elusive. This isn’t a madman, which makes it all the more exciting. I kept on reading, even though my eyes were half-closed and I could barely reach the end of a page without yawning, because I simply had to find out who the killer was. In the dead of night, that’s quite a feat.

All in all, an intriguing mystery / thriller, and I’m confident we’ll see much more from this author. She has a great talent for describing characters and scenery.

P.S. Yes, I did go geocaching afterward. It was a blast! And no, I didn’t find any body parts. Thank God....more

What a ride!I really liked this book - fast paced from the word go!And it got me immediately intrigued by geocaching - I had never heard of this activity beforehand... but I did actually end up signing up to the website and look forward to taking part! (it sounds like a worthwhile activity whilst on holiday to discover your surroundings)... hopefully our findings will not be as gruesome as the ones Beatrice Kaspary and her partner Florin encounter in this story...All of the characters were wellWhat a ride!I really liked this book - fast paced from the word go!And it got me immediately intrigued by geocaching - I had never heard of this activity beforehand... but I did actually end up signing up to the website and look forward to taking part! (it sounds like a worthwhile activity whilst on holiday to discover your surroundings)... hopefully our findings will not be as gruesome as the ones Beatrice Kaspary and her partner Florin encounter in this story...All of the characters were well developed and I could not help but sympathising with the culprit. An intense psychological thriller that kept me guessing till the end.Five (Fünf) is a book originally written in German by Ursula Poznanski, a.k.a. Ursula P. Archer, a.k.a. Ursula Archer. To me this did not feel like a translation at all - the writing was excellent and very effective. I was sucked into the story immediately.I would whole-heartedly recommend this to anyone into mystery, thrillers, whodunnit genre. Intense and gruesome, but not gratuitously gory.Without a doubt one of the best books I have read recently.I cannot wait for the next instalment in the Beatrice Kaspary series, Blinde Vögel (Blind Birds), to be translated... as unfortunately I cannot read German!...more

I'm surprised I've never read a murder mystery about geocaching before. What a great combination. Don't worry if you don't know anything about geocaching - Archer provides enough of a primer to make it accessible and intriguing (what did we do before we could download a GPS app on our phone?). She does a great job of teasing the story out - doling out tidbits of backstory. Bea and Florin make for as interesting a police duo as I've read in some time. Their personal lives flit about the edges ofI'm surprised I've never read a murder mystery about geocaching before. What a great combination. Don't worry if you don't know anything about geocaching - Archer provides enough of a primer to make it accessible and intriguing (what did we do before we could download a GPS app on our phone?). She does a great job of teasing the story out - doling out tidbits of backstory. Bea and Florin make for as interesting a police duo as I've read in some time. Their personal lives flit about the edges of the mystery - creating another mystery.

I suspected everyone at one time or another - including some of the murder victims (maybe they're not *really* dead). And even though my suspicions grew stronger about the eventual culprit, it didn't detract in any way from my enjoyment of this book. It's dark and twisted, full of guilt and missed opportunities.

I read an advance copy - the book isn't available until December, 2014, so you'll have to wait. But, you should absolutely put this book on your "to read" list. You won't regret it....more

'Five' offers a new twist to the typical serial killer thrillers. GPS coordinates are found tattooed on the soles of a victims' feet. The coordinates send police on a "treasure hunt" of sorts where the killer mixes murder with geocaching, an activity where geocachers hunt for hidden objects based on GPS coordinates and clues from other geocachers. An enjoyable read (if you like dark murder mysteries) with an intriguing lead character, D.I. Beatrice Kaspary. As a geocacher myself, it was fun to'Five' offers a new twist to the typical serial killer thrillers. GPS coordinates are found tattooed on the soles of a victims' feet. The coordinates send police on a "treasure hunt" of sorts where the killer mixes murder with geocaching, an activity where geocachers hunt for hidden objects based on GPS coordinates and clues from other geocachers. An enjoyable read (if you like dark murder mysteries) with an intriguing lead character, D.I. Beatrice Kaspary. As a geocacher myself, it was fun to read about a popular hobby in this light. It adds a bit more mystery to an already interesting pastime.

I received this book as an advanced reading copy through BookBrowse's First Impression program....more

Recommends it for: Anyone who loves a good mystery with twists and turns

I received this book in exchange for an honest review! This book grabbed my attention from the beginning and caused me a couple of sleepless nights because I didn't want to put it down. The storyline was full of twists and turns and the characters were reminiscent of people you may have met in life. I had heard of geocaching before but never knew what it was so I like how the author explained what it was through the characters having to research it. I am hoping that this debut novel ends upI received this book in exchange for an honest review! This book grabbed my attention from the beginning and caused me a couple of sleepless nights because I didn't want to put it down. The storyline was full of twists and turns and the characters were reminiscent of people you may have met in life. I had heard of geocaching before but never knew what it was so I like how the author explained what it was through the characters having to research it. I am hoping that this debut novel ends up becoming a series and I will be keeping an eye out for other books by this author....more

This was one of those books that made me want to skip the gym, that made me read at stoplights because it was so good. I was hooked. What really grabbed my attention was that it was about geocaching and I just started to think I might want to do that as a hobby. I didn't even predict the end. And this book had some scenarios that made me squirm...and I am pretty much squirm-proof since I used to work as an investigator for a medical examiner's office (awesome, best job I ever had). Just anThis was one of those books that made me want to skip the gym, that made me read at stoplights because it was so good. I was hooked. What really grabbed my attention was that it was about geocaching and I just started to think I might want to do that as a hobby. I didn't even predict the end. And this book had some scenarios that made me squirm...and I am pretty much squirm-proof since I used to work as an investigator for a medical examiner's office (awesome, best job I ever had). Just an awesome, awesome book!...more

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.I really liked the case but I figured out who the Owner was before the police. Although Beatrice then said she knew it from the moment I did - why did she try to find him alone? WHY? That was dumb.

Born on 30 October 1968 in Vienna, Ursula Poznanski (a.k.a. Ursula P. Archer), after finishing high school, she began studying Japanese studies, journalism, law and theater.

She has worked as a medical journalist since 1996.

She has been a published book author since 2003.

She lives with her family in the south of Vienna.-------------------------------------Geboren am 30. Oktober 1968 in Wien. NachBorn on 30 October 1968 in Vienna, Ursula Poznanski (a.k.a. Ursula P. Archer), after finishing high school, she began studying Japanese studies, journalism, law and theater.